Geneva, Switzerland – DifferentApps today is pleased to announce FastCalc 1.6 for iOS, an update to their Productivity app that is an advanced design, five-function calculator, featuring very large, swipeable keys. Particularly on the iPhone and iPod touch, very large keys offer enhanced visual and tactile usability. The app has only 12 keys (iPhone), of which 8 serve more than one function. For example, rather than devote an entire key to the “+” sign, users simply swipe downwards on the “2″ key to invoke the “plus” operation. With three memories, parentheses, and exponents, FastCalc allows the user to calculate more easily and efficiently than calculators that do not support swipe gestures.

Since there are more than 100 basic, five-function calculators available on the App Store, what makes FastCalc the app of choice? Put simply, the app embodies an elegant solution to the tradeoff between large keys and additional functions. Formerly, normal functions (add, subtract, multiply, and divide), as well as additional functions ( memory A, memory B, memory C, exponential expressions, square roots, pi, and parentheses) each required one key. In cases where one key served two functions, the user was required to first press a key activating the secondary function. FastCalc has made this confusing operational requirement obsolete.

An ideal example of this convenient multi-functionality is FastCalc’s “5″ key, which serves three different functions besides the number five. Exactly in the center of the iPhone screen, the “5″ key is the easiest to see and to use. Swiping across the key from left to right produces an open parenthesis, from right to left a close parenthesis, and from top to bottom the multiplication sign “x.” In fact, all the five basic functions (add, subtract, multiply, divide, square root) are executed with a swipe gesture instead of a touch.

FastCalc features a large display screen that scrolls vertically, allowing continuous readout of ongoing calculations or expressions. There is no “clear” key. Instead the user swipes across the display to clear it. A “Confirmation required when clearing” option is available from the user settings to prevent accidental erasures. Slowly swiping from right to left clears the screen a single number or operator at a time. And there is no “equals” key, because computations are completed as they are entered.

As expected in a calculator app that includes parentheses, FastCalc adheres to the standard rules regarding priority of operations: 1) terms inside parentheses or brackets; 2) exponents and roots; 3) multiplication and division from left to right; and 4) addition and subtraction from left to right. Additional features include: 2-14 decimal places of accuracy, customizable color of both keyboard and display, and three memory functions (four on iPad) with display of the value on the key.

“FastCalc is the best calculator you’ve ever used on the iPhone for everyday and repetitive calculations,” stated Andre Ponzo of DifferentApps. “You’ll appreciate the extra large keys, the swipeable functions, and the easy-to-clear scrolling display.”

Pricing and Availability: FastCalc 1.6 is $2.99 (USD) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Productivity category. FastCalc – free 1.6, with reduced capabilities, is also available through the App Store.

Based in Geneva, Switzerland, DifferentApps is indie developer Andre Ponzo, who is an electronics engineer. He is currently working in the field of industrial measurement sensors. With a good knowledge of computer programming, Andre come up with the idea of FastCalc three years ago. This led to his start in iOS development in parallel with his professional activity. Copyright (C) 2009-2011 DifferentApps. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, and iPod are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other trademarks and registered trademarks may be the property of their respective owners.